5 Learning Theories in Psychology

Theories of learning have done much to influence the way people teach, create course curriculum and explain things to their children. Theories have sprung up that reflect the changing values in our social environments and the popular influences of the day. In the 1960s, cognitivism moved to the forefront of learning theory, exactly when popular culture was embracing “do your own thing.” Behavioralism, a more basic reward-and-learn postulation, became a little less popular about then.

Learning theories are very persistent. Many explanations have been devised to define the same phenomenon, possibly because learning is complex and one theory does not fit everyone or every situation. Here are five prominent theories that attempt to explain how we go to bed at night a little smarter than when we woke up that morning.

1. Behaviorism

Behaviorism dates back to the late 19th century and, as such, was born in an era when natural sciences were at the forefront of scientific discovery. It explains learning as a conditioned or operant response to the environment, which supplies either positive or negative consequences to any behavior. It also postulates that learning is only complete when it can be seen as a change in behavior.

Behaviorism postulates learning as starting with a blank page. American psychologist B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) argued that the theory was incomplete, however, because it did not explain how we overcome initial failures to do things like ride a bicycle. Skinner added the concept that prior thought and emotions also came into play for human learning. Because of this, Skinner’s work was sometimes labeled “radical behaviorism.”

2. Cognitivism

Cognitivism is often tied to behaviorism in practice, but the theories are polar opposites. Cognitivism explains learning as based on understanding. The mind, when receptive to new ideas, actively processes new information to arrive at an understanding that relies on incorporating prior knowledge and assumptions. This puts thinking at the forefront of the learning process. Learning is evidenced by new understanding, not behavioral change.

Cognitivism relies on a process in which new information is weighed against prior knowledge. How does new information fit in with previously learned information? This brings into play processes like problem solving, analysis and memory.

Understanding is defined as a cognitive “schema,” which is analogous to awareness or meaning. Learning is defined as a change in an established schema.

3. Constructivism

Like cognitivism, constructivism sees learning as an active mental process. Under contructivism theory, people build or construct knowledge based on social or situational experiences. This allows people to accumulate information and to test it through social interactions.

In this manner, it would seem that knowledge would eventually homogenize. But that isn’t the case. Constructivism says people build knowledge based on subjective considerations. Individuals then come to individual, subjective conclusions. Knowledge is still viewed as a conceptualized process with learning seen as the result of interactions with the environment and the constant testing that we rely on to process information.

4. Humanistic

Humanistic theory also reflects the values of its age. Taking root in the 1960s, humanistic theory postulates that learning is tied to motivations, potential and free will. It is this theory that has given us the term “self-actualization.”

The humanistic, whole-person approach does not recognize a change in behavior or a change in meaning as evidence of learning. What it relies on is people fulfilling their potential, which is done through observations and accumulated experiences.

Rather than didactic teaching, humanists believe role models are the best teachers. They provide a reason for pursuing new information and help keep goals realistic. When a teacher says, “Break up into smaller groups and discuss amongst yourselves,” they are using a humanistic approach.

5. Experiential

Espoused by educational theorist David Kolb, experiential theory sees learning as a four-step process that includes concrete experiences, reflective observation, abstract conceptualism and active experimentation. Here, experience leads to reflection, then conceptualization, then testing, which involves new experiences. It is seen as a self-sustaining cycle with each of the four steps required for learning.

Kolb also says emotions, prior learning and style of processing are involved. As such, there are four learning styles. Some people prefer doing; others prefer watching. Some prefer reading and reflecting. Others prefer a gut-level response followed by experimenting. This theory gave birth to multi-modality teaching. Experiential teachers deploy hands on learning, reflections, reading, watching slides or films, lectures, field trips, and other methods to accommodate all their students’ learning styles.

SUMMARY

Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, humanistic and experiential are among the most prominent learning theories that have influenced our day-to-day lives. Other notable theories include the Maslowian hierarchy of needs, Elaboration theory, ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate), and Bloom’s Taxonomy.

These theories have greatly influenced teaching, parenting and the so-called helping professions, which includes clinical psychologists, therapists and counselors. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, for example, postulates that people need to have their basic needs met – food, shelter and security – before they can seek out more transcendent needs, such as love, esteem and self-actualization. A therapist using Maslowian principles would attempt to secure a client’s basic needs before attempting to work on loftier goals.

In practice, of course, some of these theories are applied in conjunction with others. Cognitive-behavioral therapy makes use of two theories simultaneously and rational-emotive-behavioral therapy, espoused by New York City psychiatrist Albert Ellis (1913-2007), melds three different modalities in order to help heal emotional distress and behavioral problems.

Our environment and social developments also affects the science of learning. Right on time, for example, comes the theory of Connectivism, which is frequently called the learning theory for the digital age. This theory says that information is random, even chaotic, but those who can make connections in this environment will do well. “How are learning theories impacted when knowledge is no longer acquired in the linear manner?” asks George Simens in a paper posted by elearnspace in 2004.

Among the answers to that: “The ability to see connections between fields, ideas and concepts is a core skill,” Siemens wrote, attempting to put a modern spin on an age-old puzzle.